torment
To cause a person or animal great suffering or annoyance, often again and again.
torment in a sentence
- The itchy jumper tormented Ali all day until he finally wriggled out of it.
- Clouds of midges began to torment the campers until they zipped themselves inside the tent.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to torment?
- Acalm
- Bplague
- Cplease
- Dcomfort
Show the answer
B: plague. The other three mean the opposite of torment.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to torment?
- Acomfort
- Bpester
- Cplague
- Dtorture
Show the answer
A: comfort. The other three mean nearly the same as torment.
Words that mean something similar
plague, pester, torture
Words that mean the opposite
comfort, calm, please
More words about emotions & feelings
- trepidation: A nervous, fearful feeling about something that is going to happen.
- triumph: A great victory or success.
- turmoil: A state of great confusion and upset.
- twinge: A sudden short pain or unpleasant feeling.
- unnerve: To make someone lose their confidence or feel worried.
- vehement: Showing very strong, forceful feeling.
- vengeance: The act of hurting someone back for what they did to you.
- vex: To annoy or worry someone.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test